Beach Bums

There is nothing more relaxing than a week at Sandbridge.  Every other year my parents rent a beach house for all of us and we basically eat and lay around in the sun.

When people ask what we did, I can't even think of anything exciting, and that's what makes it so great! It's a week of total spoiling. Right on the beach, plenty of cousins and time with my family. I'd wake up, go do some exercise, make some breakfast and we were in the sand by 10 at the latest. Maybe come in for lunch around 2 and head back to the pool until dinner time.

The beach house this year was perfect -- beds everywhere and lots and lots of toys.  My kids were mainly stoked for the TVs in every.single.room. The little girls all slept in the "Sandcastle" room which housed around 20 puzzles.  One evening we were all treated to a "Puzzle Muzum" complete with tour guides and tickets.

Downstairs was a giant game room where Dustin and Kyle competed in many epic battles, none of which held our interest for long. But it appears as long as I was sleeping, Dustin would win.

Kathleen and I were in charge of the shopping. I think we did a pretty good job, even though we still had to go to the store every day.

On one such "town" trip, Nate ended up with some awesome sunglasses.

THE BEACH!!!  That's it. I love that place. But just the beach.  Not the water.

We dug holes, went boogey boarding (even I got in the water for that) -- "Papa knows the waves!"

 made up cheers, played Marco Polo and Toothpaste in the swimming pool

 made cities and sand couches,

 walked the beach for sea shells and sand dollars

 drove the convertible, went for morning walks and made Dustin give us a boot camp on the beach

 Rita's Water Ice every.single.night

 date night with Kathleen and Kyle in Virginia Beach

 covered ourselves in sand, looked for dolphins in the water (5 more push-ups)

Nate and Matt took surf lessons which ended in torrential downpour

Probably my favorite story of the week, was about Sadie's flip flops.  When I got back from the store Saturday afternoon, Sadie was very upset because she had lost one of her flip flops in the ocean.

All week long, I would pass by the lone flip flop and think I should pick it up and throw it away. BUT, since I was carrying a million beach chairs and toys, I would just leave it there like the lazy mother that I am.

Thursday morning, my mom took Matt for a morning walk along the beach when they came running back to the house with Sadie's long lost flip flop!!  Turns out it washed up the shore down by Dam Neck. 5 days later!!

The weather was perfect until the last day we were there, so we headed out early for North Carolina while my kids sobbed until we hit the state border. We miss the beach!! Luke still asks me why we came back to Arizona since he thought we were going to live on the beach forever. 

A Patriotic Holiday

We spent the 4th of July flying to Virginia. Although, we probably looked like trouble just waiting to happen with our red, white and blue ensembles, 3 backpacks, purse, computer bag and 6 rolling carry ons, I am happy to report that we were quite pleasant to be around.

 

In a total shocker, we breezed through security, the kids were all perfectly behaved and content for our two flights, our layover time was perfect and I managed to read a book, hold people's babies and relax on the trip.

We arrived in Williamsburg, Virginia (capital of the Virginia Colony from 1699 to 1780 and center of political events in Virginia leading to the American Revolution -- in case your foreign education left you as lacking in American history events as mine did) just in time to drive down to Colonial Williamsburg for some fireworks.  The only problem: the 4th of July is kind of a big deal down there.  There were people everywhere and no parking to be found, so Dustin dropped us off while he went to find some parking. Me, the 4 kids, in the dark, in a place Dustin has never been before, spotty cell phone reception and 10,000 people.  I have no idea what got into me, but I'm glad I went with it, because it was fabulous.

If you ever get a chance to do it, GO!  Hear a reading of the Declaration of Independence, watch performances from Colonial Williamsburg’s Fifes and Drums, and then a concert before the fireworks
on the lawn in front of the Governor's Palace (I stole that description from the internet). In what can only be attributed to Providence, Dustin managed to find us listening to the William Tell Overture right before the fireworks started. Best show around with a spectacular finale.

It was 10:30 by then, but only 7:30 to our Arizona clocks, so we headed out to eat at the Dog Street Pub.  Best part of the night -- sticky toffee pudding. My kids, who insisted they were too full for dessert, devoured it. I'm glad we refueled because we had to walk a mile to get to our car, but a walk through the William & Mary campus (second oldest college in the US, after Harvard) is never a bad thing.

The next day we met up with my parents, my sister and her girls and 2 of neices for some good old Colonial fun. Everyone was so happy to be reunited!

 

 

My sister graduated from William and Mary so she knows all the good spots. First up -- the Cheese Shop for lunch.  My last time visiting my sister, I ordered egg salad and everyone mocked me, so this time I made the appropriate choice and it was delicious -- get the house dressing.

Then we wandered around spending money on awesome hats, fun fifes and realizing how terrible humidity is.

Luke also learned how delicious soda is with some home brewed Root Beer

We did some touristy things and then hit up the William and Mary bookstore where we thought we lost Luke (he was with Dustin) and spent $17 on a basketball (there was no price tag on the ball when we took it up to the register) that somehow got lost before our trip was half way over. FUN!

Our last stop was the Peanut Shop before we headed out to Jamestown for the ferry. We got out and fed the birds and ran up and down the stairs 800 times.

By the time we got to the hotel, we had about zero energy. . . wait, the ADULTS had zero energy.  The kids managed to still bounce off of the walls and run around playing Hide and Go Seek.

 

 We took over the lobby of a hotel for pizza, went for a little walk and managed to find a grove of trees full of FIREFLIES! 

As a child we would go visit my dad's family in Pennsylvania every summer and I remember catching fireflies on their lawn every night, usually after a trip to Friendly's for ice cream. By the time we get back East every other year, I've completely forgotten about them, so it's always a fun re-discovery. 

 

My kids got really good at catching them this year.  Even Luke.

I'm pretty sure Luke squished a good dozen of them to death. I actually saw pieces fall off of them.  Then he's hold it up to me and inform me, "They like me!  They won't leave." 

And then the next day, we headed out for the beach.

Instagram Summer

Since we got home from Europe 2 weeks ago, I've been trying to fit in our last few weeks of summer.  My kids go back to school in two and a half weeks. And so here you have our last 2 weeks in Instagram pictures (with a few random just plain pictures for fun)

 Sadie finally got to change her earrings out for the first time after getting them pierced.  First there were morning earrings, and then lunch earrings followed by dinner earrings and bed earrings.

 Karen and her kids came over and we played Twister.  I totally won.

And then Karen lost AGAIN playing against nate, but mainly because this happened:

 

 The girls started a Spooky Hotel which ended up with ketchup and strawberry syrup "bloody" hand prints all over Sadie's room.

 We went to a Murder Mystery party. Dustin was riveted.

 A few more trips to Big Surf with the Wright's

 More play dates with the kids friends before everyone escaped the 120 degree heat. Yes, we always dress for dinner.

 Getting ready for Sara's Beau or Bow

 Birthday breakfast

 A little "Who Wore it Best" at Book Club (at my house)

 Lots and lots of swimming

 Celebrating this lady and her baby GIRL! I made, filled and frosted 48 cupcakes.

 A Saturday at the mall with 4 kids wore me out and Luke came home with a $36 outfit.

 Dinner and swimming at the Maroneys. Complete with Luke swimming by himself and pool relay races. My kids were right -- it's more fun when you get *in* the pool.

 Donuts before the movies

 Haircuts for the boys

 Ice cream for lunch because it's hot

And just because. The end

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

My uber fun and spunky sister, Kathleen (not to be confused with my boring, lame non-existant sister) started her week off strong.  For a woman watching 6 kids ages 11, 8, 6, 4, 3 and 1, she was pretty ambitious.

She took all the kids to the store and bought a pool.

She even made a collage and pictures.  Healthy snacks!  Hair done!  She's a better mom to 6 than I am to 4.

 

I received amazing e-mails like this:

"Glad you made it!! Is it all you hoped it would be??
What would you do if you came home and I had made a display case for Dustin's work trophies??
My kids are awake, yours are snoozing.
Love you!!"

and

"Sadie: what's even the point of dancing if you can't dance like me and Olivia?"

and

"HELLO! We miss you! What did you do today?? Sadie earned a dollar. She was perfect. At Travis' house they played pretty, pretty princess and Nate won. Also, they played evil Lucy and went to McDonalds for dinner. At McDonalds they played dragons and knights. Ellie went swimming for 5 hours and cheated at Monopoly. We played party Monopoly at home and Sadie went bankrupt multiple times. Luke freaked out over the iPad and iPod and iPhone allllll dayyyyyy long. He loves technology. There was naked swimming in the pool. We also cleaned rooms. Hurray! They were perfect!

Sadie says: I got a dollar, pay up. I liked the unicorn picture you sent. I miss you a lot. 

Nate: What did I get from Germany, I really want to know? I love you. Cry, cry, cry, cry, cry. (He didn't really cry) 

Ellie: Hi mom! How's it going? Do you like my hair today? (Sarcasm) So really mom, what'd you do today? I love you lots. More than anything in the world. I'm going to go play piano. Bye. 

Luke: I love you. I love the black iPad. 

Love you!!!"

 

And then the e-mails stopped.  Because whatever Olivia brought that made her look like this:

 

. . . took down my sister and sweet Nora as well.  We're saying flu because none of my kids got it and we all got flu shots.  Get your flu shots kids.

She didn't get to bake the cookie dough I made her. Or eat the chocolate croissants I left so she could feel like she was in Paris with us.

 And yet somehow, even while deathly ill, my sister is STILL more fun than me.  They went to the movies.  Made Father's Day gifts. Got donuts (which you knew she was sick if she didn't think Bosa donuts was all that). And decorated plates.

And she didn't even tell me how bad it was because she just wanted me to have fun.

My girlfriends were amazing as well.  They took my kids to church, and brought in dinners and even bought the kool aid that stained my daughters' hair.

I woke up to the following text messages: "What if I dyed the tips of Ellie's hair purple?"

 

Next message: "I dyed Ellie's tips purple with kool aid." "Sara bought the kool aid.  She's an accomplice." 

 

Next message: "And mom okayed it.  Sadie chickened out and washed her out."

Well here's what we've learned about kool aid.  It doesn't come out. Even if you wash it out right away.  And if you dye only the right half of your head and try to wash it out it just turns pink. You can't bleach it out and you can't dye over it.  Good thing my girls ROCK the hair.

 

 

We're trying to decide if this beats the time my dad shaved Luke bald.

I'm sure my sister's recount of the week would be much more entertaining and well written, but I'm pretty sure she'll never write about it because all she wants to do is forget it ever happened.